Grain-separator



' PATBNTED' FEB. '16, 1904 f J. B. GORN'WALL.

, A No. 752,'145.

GRAIN SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAB., 3, 1903.

Z BEEBTS-SHEETL- Napf/52,145 PATENTED FEB.'16,1904."

\ J. B.l GORNWALL. Y

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2( @Noruego I Suva/nmz 4 v '4' Af @Uitslagen l A .PATENT Pat-@ated rebmaryie, 1904.

Prien;

AND LEAS MANUFACTURING CQMPANY, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS.

GRAIN-SEPARA-ron.

rSPECIFICATION. forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,145, dated February 1.6, 1904.

' Application led March 3, 1903. 'Seriai No. 145,981. (No inodel.) Y

l To -ctZZ whom it `may concern:

. which form part of this speciiication.

Beit known` that I, JOHN B.- CORNWALL, of

'Molina inthe county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-separators; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying-drawings,

f This invention is an improved'milling or grain separator in which the grain is cleaned I by subjection to air-blasts and by the action of sieves; and the object of the present invention is to provide afmachine having closed aircurrents circulating 'from' the fan-chamber through the separating-trunks and so arranged, that the dust and matters separated from the grain in the trunks will be collected within the machine itself, doing away with-the use of or need for a separate dust-collector, such y as have been heretofore generally necessary.

The principal objects of the invention, therefore, are, first, to produce a'machine that will .not necessarily requirethe assistance or cope'ration of a separate apparatus for collecting or settling the dust; second, to produce a machine having two airtrunk separations and two separate air-currents, one foreach trunk, both aircircuits being controlled by one fan; third, to provide a machine in which the air separations occur independently of the screensand in l' which the shoe carrying the sieves and screens is not inclosed within and does' not form any Apart of the air passages or trunks; fourth, to make provision for the escape of a suiicient portion of the airblast from the fan to prevent leakage at the blast side of the machine, so that the suction produced by the fan in the trunks will equal or be slightly greater than the pressure of the air at the blast side of the fan, thus preventing the escape of dustcessihle at all times, and also distinguished by the peculiar arrangement and structure ofthe air-passages, whereby the pressure at the blast i side of the fan will not exceed the pressure at the suction side thereof, thus preventing the tendenc `class of machine of the dust-laden air at the blast side of the-fan to escape through any small openings or with the grain unless the machine is made absolutely air-tight.l In the present invention, in fact, the air-currents vwhile complete; and endless are due more to suction than to the blast action of the fan,

heretofore found to existin this y `JOHN B. CORNWALL, OF MOLINE ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BARNARD A which has a further advantage of increasing the l separatingaction of the air-blasts in the airtrunks.

Features of the invention for which protection is desired will be summarized in the claims following the description of the machine illustrated in the drawings, which embodies the invention in a practical manner, although I do not desire to restrict myself to any specific form, dimensions, or arrangements l,of Iparts thereof.

In said drawings, Figurel is a perspective view of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section therethrough, ,and Fig. 3 is a horizontal transverse section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. v 1

All the parts of the machine, including the feed-hopper, the settling-chambers, the airtrunks, fan-chamber, and sieve-boxes, are supported upon a suitable frame A. Most of these parts are of ordinary construction except as hereinafter specified, so that it will be unnecessary to give a detailed specification of the construction of the several parts, particularly asthese' may be varied to suit the millbuilder, and a general description thereof will impart a suiciently'clear understanding of the construction and operation of the machine to enable any one Vskilled in this art to construct the apparatus shown in the drawings or to embody the invention in other forms, accordingto the nature of the Work to be employed.

The grain may be spouted into the feedhopper a in the usual manner. This hopper is provided with a discharge-roller a, and a I invention upon the construction of the shoe charged.

feed-regulating valve 7c (which may be of the l oating type, as is well known in theart) automatically regulates thev feed by the weight of grain in the hopper. From the hopper the grain is discharged into the lower end of a vertical air-trunk through an' outlet b', in which the grain escapes onto a weighted hinged valve p', by which it is distributedonto the receiving end of the screen-shoe. `ln the-exlample shown the shoe is made in two partsan upper screen-box S and lower screen-box S', each screen-box being provided with a series of screens .s and underlying chutes r, by which the grain is properly directed onto the underlying screens, as is customary in this class of machines. Nothing is claimed in this or screen-boxes per se. rlhe screen-boxes are reciprocated by means of rods w from cams Q02 on a transverse shaft w', as shown in the drawings, said shaft being' journaled in brackets on the mainframe and driven by yany suitable means.

The large impurities are separated Jfrom the grain in passing' through the shoe and are discharged onto a chute u at the end of the lower screens in box S', by which chute they are conveyed to one side oi' the machine and dis- From the lower screen s the grain falls upon a finer screen t, through which the smaller impurities escape onto a dischargechute e, while the clean grain passes on throughthe toe of the box S and is discharged into the lower end of a vertical air-trunk e', in the bottom of which is a conveyer Z, by which the cleaned grain is removed from the machine. The upper end of air-trunk b communicates with a downwardly-curved passage Z13, leading into a settling-chamber c, provided with a conveyer in its bottom, and the air passes through said chamber under a plate d in the bottom of passage b2 into passages c at the side oi' the air-trunk b and chamber c and which lead into chambers f at the inlet side'of the fan-chamber G. Valves e are interposed between the 'passage e and chambers f and may be adjusted by means of the arms w and retainers in the usual manner, so as to regulate the strength or' the blast through the trunk into the fan-chamber.

The upper end of air-trunk z' communicates by means of a curved passage z" with a larger settling-chamber q, which is constructed similarly to chamber c, but is considerably larger, and has a conveyer o in its bottom to discharge matters collected therein. The chamber q communicates with the inlet of fanchamber G by means of passages e2, controlled by valves e3, as indicated in the drawings. Said valves may be adjusted like the valves e to regulate the blast of air through the trunk c'. It will be observed that both chambers c and q communicate with the suction side of the fan-chamber, and the outlet or blast passage G from the fan-chamber extends above and over the hopper a and at a point adjacent to the hopper divides into two downwardly-extending branch passages .a and z'. yThe branch z extends down beside and under the hopper a and communicatesV with the lower end or' trunk b, as-shown in Fig. l, so that the grain discharged into the trunkby roller n will have to pass through the current of air entering and passing upward through the trunk A valve y', placed at the junction of the passages g g and spout G", can be shifted so as to regulate the relative amounts of air passing through said passages.

The air passage or spout z extends downward to below and partially around the sievebox, entering the lower end of the trunl just below the discharge from the chute S/ thereinto, so that the grain entering the lower end of trunk il is subjected to the blast of air entering said trunk. The lower portion z2 or' the air-spout is narrowed and widened as it approaches trunk e', so as to cause the air t enter the 4trunk uniformly across the width thereof. The grain entering the trunk c', moreover, may be spread and disseminated by the weighted adjustable valve m, as indicated inthe drawings. The several discharge-chutes land conveyers may be of any well-known construction, and are thereforeonly diagram- `matically illustrated in the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows one arrangement for driving the fan and shaking-chutes, the feed-roller, and the several conveyers simultaneously by means of pulleys, belts, and sprocket-chains; but I do not wish to restrict myself to any particular arrangement of drive mechanism.

An improved feature of the construction of the air-pipe v valve preferablya permeablev section y, through which a modicum of air may escape. This may be simply an opening in the side of the pipe covered by a cloth or tine screen, which will prevent the escape of dust while permitting a portion of the air to filter therethrough, and this section y should be of suflicient area to reduce the blast-pressure in the pipe a to or slightly below the suction or upward pull in the trunk z'.

The foregoing description in connection with the drawings will enable any one to readily comprehend the construction of the machine shown in the drawings, and. of course it will be understood that the valves and feedhopper, screen, and conveyers will be properly constructed or adapted from those well known in the art to the uses intended.

Operation: The operation or' the machine is as follows: The grain is spouted into the hopper a from any suitable supply and is fed therefrom by feed-roller m into the lower end of the air-trunk I), the feed olE the grain being regulated by the valve in, which also acts to keep the air from passing into the feed-hopper. The valve 7c may be of such construction that it will be automatically regulated by is vplacing therein,.below the IOO IIO

the amount of grain in the feed-chamber and by a rod and weight at its outer end, the latseparated from lighter impurities by the cur'v rent of air passing upward through the trunk, t

the lighter impurities and grain's being elevated by the air and carried over a depositin the settling-chamber c, while'the heavier and partially cleaned grain passes downward 'through the air-current and is discharged through the weighted valve p o nto thesievebox S, and in passing through the sievefboxes the coarse impurities are separated from the grain by the sievesvpin the usual Imanner and are discharged from the lower sieve box through the side spout u, which carries the impurities to one side ofthe machine. The grain and smaller impurities passing through the sieves are `finally dropped upon a fine sieve t, through which the fine seedsand impurities pass and are discharged at the side of the machine by the side spout e, while the cleaned grain passes on over the apronof the shoe, past the valve m, and into the lower end of air-trunk 2f, -where it is subjected to a second air-blast and a second separation takes place, the cleaned grain falling into the conveyer in the bottom of trunk t', where it is discharged,

while the light grain and impurities separated 'that the airentering said chambers is expand-A y therefrom are carried up with the air through trunk/a' and deposited in the settling-chamber" g, from which they are discharged by the conveyer o'. Both the settling-chambers c' and q are of so much larger area than the trunks Y) i ed and slowed, and the impurities thereinvwill be deposited in said chambers before the air The airseparate currents, one current passing through the passage g', as described, down into the lower end of the trunk 5' and making the first" separation of the grain, while the larger portion or' the air passes through the passages si, past the relief-section y inthe passage a,

rwhich allows the escape of a part of the air,

but retains the dust particles in the passage. The cloth or permeable cover over the opening e/ thus reduces the outward pressure of the air in the rest ci' the passage 2 22, so that the sucH tion of the fan would cause air to be drawn in through the discharge-openings or any small openings which may be inadvertently left open in the passages instead of the blast of air esings, thus makingpthe machine dustless.

caping outwardly through such small open- It is not intended that any large part oi' the air shall be allowed to escape from the machine' at the'point y, but only such fraction thereof' I as will practically balance the outward and inward pressures on the opposite sidesof the fan, or, if anything, will slightly increase the pressure on the suction side of the fan, and

' therefore the upward draft through the trunks 11 will be due more to suction than to blastpressure.` The air being reduced in pressure lin passage a passes through the nearly horizontal part of the passage 22, which is reduced indepth and increased'in width to the full width of the trunk t' atthe point where the grain passes from` the shoe into the lower end of the trunk t', and the suction or' the fanbeginning to operate more forcibly as the air nears the ian,- and insures a good separation of the grain at this point. l

The air-trunks can be readily removed, especiallyat thefront of the machine, Wlienit is. desired to change the sie-ves in .the shoe.

It will heobserved that the sieves arealways open to inspection and that there is no v air blast or suction through the sieves which willv 'interfere with the action of the air-trunks or with the sieves. In the machine shown -there are two separate air-currents independently controllable, both currents being closed and both operated by one fan, and that at all times the suction of the fan will cause a slightly-greater pressure at the outlet end of the trunks than at the inlet ends, so that any impurities separated from the grain by the dust-chambers and there deposited v Having thus described my invention, what I-therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, isz- 1. In a grain-separator, the combination 0i' a pair of air-trunks suitably separated, a pair of .settling chambers respectively communicating with theupper ends ofv said air-trunlis,.a fan-chamber communicating at its inlet with both said settling-chambers; means for feeding se.l

yair-blast will be certainly carried into the IOO IOS

IIO

of both said closed air-circuits, substantially A asspecified.

2. In a grain-separator, the combination of two air-separating trunks, two dust-settling chambers, respectively communicating with side of said fan-chamber, said passage dividing into two branches, said branches respectively leading into the lower ends ofthe respective air-trunks thereby forming two closed air-circuits in the machine, a relief device in said air-passage to keep the pressure at the blast side of the fan below the suction-pressure at the inlet side thereof, means for Vdelivering grain into the first air-trunk, and a screen-shoe onto which the grain is discharged from the first air-trunk, and by which the grain is delivered into the second air-trunk, all substantially as andv for the purpose described.

3. In a grain-separator, the combination of an air-trunk, a settling-chamber, a fan-chamber, passages connecting the settling-chamber with the inlet of the fan'- chamber, an airpassage connecting the outlet of the fan-chamber with the lower end of the air-trunk, and forming a closed air-circuit, means for preventing an excess pressure of air inthe outletpassage of the fan, and means for feeding the grain through the lower end of said trunk7 substantially as described with a screen-shoe outside the air-circuit onto which the grain is discharged from said trunk, a second air-trunk through which the grain is discharged from said shoe, a settling-chamber communicating with the upper end of said second trunk and with the inlet of the fan-chamber, and an airpassage Aindependent or' the screen connectingl the outlet ofsaid fan-chamber with the lower end of said air-trunk and forming a second closed air-circuit, substantially as described.

4. 1n a grain-separator, the combination of a pair of air-trunks suitably separated, apair of settling-chambers respectively communicating with the upper ends of said air-trunks, a fan-chamber, communicating at its inlet with both said settling-chambers; means for feeding grain into the first trunk; a screen-shoe arranged to receive grain from the first trunk, screen it, anddischarge it into the second trunk, a branched air-passage communicating with the outlet of the fan-chamber, one of the branches leading into the rst air-trunk below the point of discharge of grain thereinto, the other branch leading into the second air-trunk below the point of discharge of grain thereinto; means in said passage for regulating the currentsv of air through its branches, and an airpressure relierl device in the branch leading to the second air-trunk, all arranged to form two closed air-currents in the machine independent of the screen-shoe through the respective air-trunks, and said screen-shoe operating outside of both said closed air-circuits,

substantially as specifiedn testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aHiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. CORNVVALL.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. SWIM, M. DILLoN. 

